Who we are:
Oak Lane Candle Co. is a candle and gift shop located in the heart of Ames, Iowa. We use all-natural soy wax (harvested right here in the Midwest), phthalate-free fragrances and a lead-free, cotton wick so you can be sure your burn is clean and natural for you and your home. Soy wax burns cleaner and longer than regular candles and is produced by American farmers. We use phthalate-free fragrance in all of our candles and a lead-free wick.
We believe in hospitality—creating a space where people feel welcomed, loved and included. We hope our candles will be one sweet, small part of that.
How we began:
In 2014 my husband and I started an adoption process of (what would be) adopting our son and daughter from Uganda. After spending a year of saving, doing different fundraisers, and countless grants, we still had money left to raise. I felt a soft nudge to try something that had been on my mind through all of this—making candles. I researched and tested, pouring batches in my basement, until I felt confident in the candle I had made, which, at that time, was a little mason jar candle. I uploaded four scents to my Etsy page and was immediately blown away at how fast people responded. Within hours, I was overwhelmed with the amount of orders and how I would keep up. Eventually I poured, delivered, and shipped all the orders, and in all of that, found a true love for creating.
These candles helped us raise the money to finish our adoption process and in March of 2017, we brought our son and daughter home. Although I did not anticipate to continue candle making, after many requests, I continued. We've expanded our products and our labels have changed, but we still believe in giving back to adoptions and supporting Uganda.
These candles helped us raise the money to finish our adoption process and in March of 2017, we brought our son and daughter home. Although I did not anticipate to continue candle making, after many requests, I continued. We've expanded our products and our labels have changed, but we still believe in giving back to adoptions and supporting Uganda.
Where is Oak Lane?
I grew up on an acreage in Southeast Iowa with a long driveway that lead to the home my parents renovated from the inside out. I remember helping my dad plant the oak trees as little seedlings down our long, gravel lane, trying to help me visualize what it would look like 10, 15, 20, even 100 years later.
After losing both parents in 2008, I left the home that built me and when I started my business in 2015, it only felt right to pay homage to that very place.
After losing both parents in 2008, I left the home that built me and when I started my business in 2015, it only felt right to pay homage to that very place.
